Box Office: '47 Ronin' Sees Disappointing Start in Japan

The pricey samurai epic, costing at least $175 million to produce, is opening in select foreign markets ahead of its Dec. 25 debut in North America.

Universal's big-budget 47 Ronin -- starring Keanu Reeves -- got off to a disappointing start in Japan over the weekend, grossing $1.3 million from 333 engagements.

The samurai epic, costing at least $175 million to produce, is opening in select foreign markets ahead of its Dec. 25 launch in North America. The movie's release was delayed several times in order to allow for re-shoots.

Placing No. 3 in Japan, 47 Ronin did notably less than Universal had hoped for. It opens next in Singapore (Dec. 19), Malaysia (Dec. 19) and Indonesia (Dec. 20), with 15 more territories opening the last weekend of the 2013, including the U.K. and Spain.

Opening first in Japan was a natural fit, considering the movie's storyline about a real-life group of samurai in 18th Century Japan. Reeves stars opposite a number of Japanese actors, including Rinko Kikuchi and Tadanobu Asano.